Car plant in Bengal? Possible, says Ratan Tata

Car plant in Bengal? Possible, says Ratan Tata

Outgoing chairman of Tata Sons Ratan Tata said on Friday there is still a possibility of locating a Tata Motors factory somewhere in West Bengal, but can be done only when 'there is friendliness at the political level'.

He was responding to the shareholders' questions relating to the abandoned Nano car factory at Singur at the AGM of Tata Global Beverages.

Tata said: "It is something that does not bring anger to me. But there is a sense of sadness because we could not bring it here."

"The case is now sub-judice and we will honour the outcome and respect the wishes of the Bengal government. Who knows, there could be a Tata Motors factory somewhere in Bengal and hopefully we welcome that," he said.

Car plant in Bengal? Possible, says Ratan Tata

"Only when there is friendliness at the political level, we will think of it. We are an Indian group. We have no bias and prejudice. The group will not walk away from Bengal," Tata said.

It was the last appearance of Ratan Tata as the chairman of the company at the annual general meeting.

Describing himself as a 'very emotional person', Tata said, "This is an emotional meeting for me. I will be back sitting with you in future. I will carry back the warmth and affection showed towards me and I will remember it till the end of my life."

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Image: A farmer works a crop next to the closed Tata Motors Nano car factory in Singur, north of Kolkata.Photographs: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Car plant in Bengal? Possible, says Ratan Tata

Tata Motors had earlier planned the mother plant of its dream small car project, later named Nano, to be set up at Singur in the state.

The erstwhile Left Front government under the chief ministership of Buddhadeb Bhattacharya acquired close to 1,000 acre in 2006 under the land acquisition act of 1894 for the mother plant and the vendor park.

The then principal opposition party Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee agitated against the land allotment.